Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-02-05

Hours DEATH-A CoRoNER's JU-
RY FINDS A VERDICT OF SUICIDE. -
The Coroner to-day held an inquest in
the case of William S. Hout. the COM
positor who committed suicide by cut
ting his throat with razor at his home
500 Guerrero street, on Monday inst.
The body had been removed to Gray's
undertaking establishment, where the
| inquest took place. ~ 81 ~
! The widow of deceased was present
with several female acquaintance. She
was very nervous and gave evidence OF
great mental suffering, Upon viewing
the remains she gave way TO fit of
weeping, and was with difficulty Undue
! ed to depart. M u
The FIRST witness, L. b. Stewart, lives
at No. 1904 Guerrero street. He said
| that be came home at s o'clock In the
afternoon on Monday and was told by
his wife that she thought that there
was some one in the house below. Wit
ness went down stairs, but found the
windows and blinds shut. He then
went to the back door, which was I'M
| locked. He opened it and entered. He
saw Hout lying on the floor on his back,
his head about four feet from the door.
Mrs. Gertrude Hout stated that her
husband was 80 years of age and was
born in Martinsburg, w. Va. She saw
him last alive about noon on Monday
at Mr.. Lichenstien's on Hayes street.
He had frequently made threats to take
his life, but she never supposed he Yves
in earnest. She knew Of no reason why
he should have killed himself. He was
in steady employment and was not in
financial trouble. They always lived
happily and were on good terms. There
was no quarrel between deceased and
witness. He was in the best of spirits
on Sunday, but he did not feel well in
the evening. When he left her on Mon.
day he had very dizzy spell. He start
ed home to light a fire, as he did not
want the children to go into the cold
house. He would sometimes become
very respondent. Deceased and his
family had been stopping at the house
| Of Mrs. Hout's cousin for week. and
| he had not slept two hours during all
| that time. He was not in the habit of
| drinking. On Sunday he went to gro
| Gerry to get some peppermint. When
\ he came back he was dizzy and felt sick,
| but witness did not think he was intox-
| icated. He always seemed to be in his
! right senses. Witness thought he was
I OverwOrked. anes g ~
| w. Cowperthwaite, foreman of the
| Report OmpOsing.roOmS, stated that
on Friday afternoon deceased complain
! ed of being sick, and said he wanted to
90 to the DOCTORS. He left at half past
O'Clock. He came around on Satur-
day. Witness never saw him under the
| influence of liquor.
4 G. B. Keefe, was born and raised in
the Same town with Hout, Martins
burg, West Virginia. He, was always
| lber and industrious,and was an intel
ligent young man. He knew of no do
nestle trouble that he had had. De-
ceased never spoke OF any financial
trouble. He had good salary, and
| was apparently getting along very well.
His death astonished witness very
4
| The funeral services occurred in the af-
| noon q Although the season is not one of
flowers, the floral pieces were elegant and
numerous. Particularly noticeable was
an anchor and shield mounted upon an
easel four feet in height. The anchor and
shield were composed of camellias, hello
trope, La France roses, smilax and maid
en- hair. The edge was of dark pansies,
and across the white shield was the word
spartan in purple violets. This piece
II ODD t1a OF
two beautiful designs bearing cards read
ing: "Empioyes of the DAILY Report
| One was a large wheel resting on a floral
stand The spokes and tire OF the. wheel
were formed of La France and La Marque
| roses. smaiden-hair and heliotrope, and the
hub of one huge camelia, surrounded with
| violets. The other design was large flo
| raj pillow, with an elevated anchor, over
which was violet semi-circle holding the
suggestive word "Rest' npurple. On the
white pillow of flowers We're the words
| s.DGiIy Report" Mr.. aud Mrs. Lichten-
stein had their cards attached to IA rich
floral pillow Of roses, yiolets, smilax and
| white pinks. ra.-,. ,fss -Esrr = -..sss
The wife of the deceased was almost
heart broken. She tainted during the SER
mon. After much difficulty Mrs. Hout
was restored to her normal condition, and
Mr.. Shortridge, resuming his address,
| said: 81 will make what L have to say
brief, even more SO than first intendad,
owing to the feelings of those near anddear
to our departed brother. 1 wish to say,
| however, as a member OF the lodge that
| orr hearts go out to the relatives at this,
their sad bereavement. Their sadness is
ours.o aRock OF Ages" was sung and
then the friends were granted an opppor-
tunity to take a last look at the remains of
poor will Hout. He appeared exceeding
" life-likc, except that his face was so
pale The deep cash in his neck, where
the keen razor had passed, was hidden
from view by a piece Of white muslin. AT
ter every one had passed the casket and
viewed the face the undertakers were
about to recover it without permitting the
wife to see it and thereby increase her
excitement, for she was quite hysterical
while the procession OF friends were pass
ing the bier. But she shrieked out in a